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Rangers respond to Miami report on Cruz

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By T.R. Sullivan

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers offered little comment on a report out of Miami that stated outfielder Nelson Cruz was among a list of prominent clients at a clinic under investigation for the sale of performance-enhancing drugs.

The report by the Miami New Times said that Cruz bought $4,000 worth of products from Anthony Bosch, the head of an anti-aging clinic near the University of Miami. The report said Cruz bought the medicine in 2012.

"The Texas Rangers were contacted late last week by Miami New Times regarding the story posted this morning," the Rangers said in a statement on Tuesday morning. "At that time, the Rangers contacted Major League Baseball on that inquiry. The team has no further comment."

Cruz did not respond to the newspaper's request for an interview.

The newspaper obtained journals and records from the now-closed Biogenesis clinic. A journal that was allegedly kept by Bosch refers to Cruz and included the entry: "Need to call him, go Thur to Texas, take meds from April 5-May 5, will owe him troches and... and will infuse them in May."

According to a July 2012 client sheet mentioned in the report, Cruz bought $4,000 worth of products from Bosch. Other clients listed by the newspaper include Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez, Yankees infielder Alex Rodriguez, Athletics right-hander Bartolo Colon and former Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera, currently a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Cruz spent last offseason working out in Miami, trying to find a strength-and-conditioning program to deal with chronic hamstring and leg issues. Cruz had been on the disabled list six times in the previous three seasons.

Cruz avoided the DL last year but still had to deal with hamstring issues as well as the effects of an offseason stomach virus that significantly eroded his strength. Cruz admitted that he was really never at full strength during the 2012 season.

Cruz, who has been the Rangers' starting right fielder for the past four seasons, played in a career-high 159 games in 2012, hitting .260 with 24 home runs and 90 RBIs across 585 at-bats. He finished with a career-low .460 slugging percentage. Cruz had a .576 slugging percentage in 2010, when he hit 22 home runs in 399 at-bats.

Cruz has never failed a drug test during his eight seasons in the Major Leagues.